Spill Containment Floor with Sealed Floating Fasteners and Strengthened Side Rails for Container

ABSTRACT

A mounting system for a shipping container or trailer floor having a plurality of apertures positioned to align with mounting holes of machinery having a first diameter to be mounted to the container floor, wherein the diameter of the container floor apertures are larger than the first diameter to allow a margin of error in the alignment with the machinery mounting holes. Non-circular threaded fasteners are located on the bottom surface of the container floor for receiving bolts for mounting machinery to the container floor, and a plurality of non-circular edged bases, each sized for receiving a non-circular threaded fastener such that the non-circular threaded fastener cannot rotate within non-circular edged base. The system also collects spilled machinery liquids for later removal.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional patent application claims priority to U.S.provisional patent application entitled “Spill Containment Floor withSealed Floating Fasteners,” having application No. 61/597,889 and filedon Feb. 13, 2012, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to mounting arrangements forsecuring industrial equipment to a shipping container floor or a trailerfloor, and more particularly, to an industrial equipment mounting systemproviding spill containment and floating fasteners. Further, the presentinvention relates generally to configurations for strengthening ashipping container floor or a trailer floor, and more particularly, to astronger side rail for a shipping container or a trailer floor.

2. Description of Related Art

Mobile power generation systems capable of delivering megawatts of powerare known to offer certain advantages compared to power delivered froman electrical utility power distribution grid. Mobile power generationsystems can provide power as needed at times of peak demand or duringbrownout in a distribution grid, or during an emergency caused by afailure in the distribution grid. A mobile power generation system canbe located at places distant from a distribution network where there isneed for power, thus minimizing any delay or the need or expense forconstructing power lines to distant or remote places.

The conventional method of transporting a mobile power station is tomount an industrial electric generator to the floor within a trailer ora stackable shipping container which is placed on a semi tractortrailer. Power generators are conventionally secured to the floor of ashipping container or semi trailer by aligning mounting holes of thegenerator to corresponding mounting apertures on the floor of theshipping container or semi trailer. Given the size and weight ofindustrial generating equipment, it can be very difficult to alignmounting holes of the generating equipment with the mounting aperturesin the floor. Furthermore, the mounting holes of generating equipment donot always align perfectly with the mounting apertures on the trailerfloor, thus further complicating the mounting process. Additionally, thesubstantial weight of industrial equipment requires the floors mountingsuch equipment to be structurally reinforced to support such weight.

Industrial generating equipment also can have some spillage of oil,fuel, coolant, and other fluids. When these fluids escape from thegenerating equipment, the fluids simply spill onto the floor, creatingdangerous conditions for operators and maintenance personnel.

Accordingly, there is a need for a mounting system that provides amargin of error in the alignment between the mounting holes ofindustrial equipment and the corresponding mounting apertures on thefloors for securing the industrial equipment to the floor.

Furthermore, there exists a need for providing receptacles for spillageof fluids from industrial equipment without having to significantlymodify the shipping container or semi trailer floor.

Additionally, there is a need for structurally reinforcing the floors ofshipping container or trailer floors to support the subsequent weight ofindustrial equipment mounted to such floors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve these deficiencies in the prior art, the presentinvention provides a mounting system for a shipping container or semitrailer floor or other mounting platforms having a top surface and abottom surface. The floor includes a plurality of apertures positionedto align with mounting holes of machinery having a first diameter to bemounted to the trailer floor, wherein the diameter of the floorapertures are larger than the first diameter to allow a margin of errorin the alignment with the machinery mounting holes. A mounting plate islocated on the top surface of the floor and has apertures with adiameter greater than the first diameter to allow a margin of error inthe alignment with the machinery mounting holes. A plurality ofnon-circular threaded fasteners is located on the bottom surface of thefloor for receiving bolts for mounting machinery to the floor. Aplurality of non-circular edged bases are each sized for receiving anon-circular threaded fastener such that the non-circular threadedfastener cannot rotate within non-circular edged base. The floormounting system includes a threaded receptacle connected to each of thenon-circular edged bases. The threaded receptacle receives a screw cap,and the screw cap is hermetically sealed to each threaded receptacle.The combination of the screw cap and threaded receptacle form ahermetically sealed chamber over each non-circular threaded fastener forreceiving and containing spilled liquids.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an improved siderail for a trailer floor having a floor with a top surface, a bottomsurface, and first and second longitudinally extending edges havingupward ending rims. A first C-beam extends adjacent to the firstlongitudinally extending edge, wherein an opening of the first C-beamfaces away from the first longitudinally extending edge, and a back ofthe first C-beam is secured to the upward extending rim of the firstlongitudinally extending edge. A second C-beam extends adjacent to thesecond longitudinally extending edge, wherein an opening of the secondC-beam faces away from the second longitudinally extending edge, and aback of the second C-beam is secured to the upward extending rim of thesecond longitudinally extending edge. A first corrugated rail extendslongitudinally within the first C-beam, wherein peaks and valleys of thefirst corrugated rail connect to inner walls of the first C-beam, and asecond corrugated rail extending longitudinally within the secondC-beam, wherein peaks and valleys of the second corrugated rail connectto inner walls of the second C-beam.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred features ofthe present invention so that those skilled in the art may betterunderstand the detailed description of the invention that follows.Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter thatform the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in theart should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conceptionand specific embodiments as a basis for designing or modifying otherstructures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention,and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scopeof the invention in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a shipping container floor configured inaccordance of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shipping container floor shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the shipping container shown in FIGS. 1 and2, wherein the bottom cover is removed to show the C-brackets under thefloor;

FIG. 4 is cross-sectional view of the shipping container floor shown inand taken along line B-B of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of screw caps and non-circular edged bases ofthe present invention shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion C of the cross-sectional viewshown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion D of the cross-sectional viewshown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a top view a containment pan as an example of a mountingplatform configured in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the containment pan shown in andtaken along line A-A of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the containment pan shown in FIGS. 8 and9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of portion E shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the side railing configured in accordancewith an additional embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a floor 10 of ashipping container to be loaded onto a semi-trailer truck, semitractor-trailer, tractor-trailer, truck and trailer, or 18-wheelerconfigured in accordance with the present invention. The walls andceiling of the shipping container are not illustrated to allow the floor10 of the shipping container to be more easily illustrated.

The floor 10 includes a base or platform 12 extending the length of theshipping container floor 10. The base 12 has a top or first surface 11and a bottom or second surface 13. Raised edges or rims 14 extend thelength of the floor 10 along the outer ends of the base 12. The base 12is formed by welding sheets of metal plates together at joints 18.Bolted in dams 20 are located at the ends of the trailer floor 10.Bolted in dams 22 extend across the top surface 11 of the base 12 forlimiting the spread of any liquid spillage on the base 12. A rectangularopening 15 provides a bottom cable access in the base 12. The bolted indam 22 includes a coupling 23 providing drainage of water orenvironmentally unfriendly liquids, depending upon the location of thedam 22. Water drainage holes 8 are located in the base 12 for drainingwater that accumulates on the base 12 from condensation, wherein suchwater is not harmful to the environment. The opening 15 includes boltedin dams 27 around the periphery to prevent spillage of liquids throughthe opening 15. Connecting ports 17 are located on the corners of thefloor 10 to enable the shipping container to be stacked and loaded.

In accordance with the present invention, mounting plates 30 are locatedon the base 12 of the floor 10. The mounting plates 30 include apertures32 which are aligned with apertures 34 (FIGS. 6 and 7) in the base 12 ofthe floor 10. The apertures 32 and 34 both have a larger diameter than afirst diameter of the mounting holes of machinery or apparatuses to bemounted to the base 12 of the floor 10. By making the diameter of theapertures 32 of the mounting plates 30 and apertures 34 of the base 12larger than the mounting holes of the machinery to be mounted to thefloor 10, a margin of error is provided in the alignment between themachinery mounting holes and the apertures 32 and 34. This margin oferror functions to facilitate the mounting process of machinery to thefloor 10, especially when the alignment between the machinery mountingholes and the apertures 34 in the floor 10 is not always precise.

The mounting plates 30 are preferably constructed of steel and welded tothe base 12 of the floor 10. The mounting plates 30 function to provideadditional strength and support for securing industrial machinery to thefloor 10. Similarly, additional mounting plates 35 having apertures 36can be located adjacent to the edges 14 for mounting additionalequipment to the floor 10 at the sides of the container floor 10, suchas a radiator. The edges 14 and dams 20 function to contain any spilledliquids until they can flow into the apertures 34 in the base 12 of thefloor 10.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the floor 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.Illustrated are the bottom of the floor 13, the rims 14, the bolted indams 20, and water drainage holes 8. The bottom cable access opening 15is shown and the joints 18. Also illustrated are horizontal C braces 38and longitudinal C braces 21. A bottom view 55 of screw caps 48 andnon-circular edged bases 44 also are shown. A gooseneck tunnel 54 isillustrated which is a receptacle for the gooseneck for the containerframe or chassis. Reinforcement C-sections 56 are illustrated extendingbetween the gooseneck tunnels 54.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the floor 10 shown in and takenalong line B-B in FIG. 1. The connecting or stacking ports 17 areillustrated. C-beams 38 are shown on under the base 12 on the bottom ofthe floor 10 functioning to provide additional strength and support tothe floor 10. Portions C and D of the floor 10 are circled, and thesecircled portions are enlarged and shown in greater details in FIGS. 6and 7, respectively. A bottom plate 19 is shown below and covering theC-beams 38 on the bottom of the floor 10.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged bottom view 55 as shown in FIG. 3 of the screwcaps 48 and non-circular edged bases 44 of the present invention. Alsoillustrated are the cross-sectional or horizontal C-beams 38 andlongitudinal C-beams 21.

FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged view of portion C shown in FIG. 4. Inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, anon-circular threaded fastener 40 is located on the bottom 13 of thebase 12 for receiving a bolt for mounting machinery to the top 11 of thebase 12. The non-circular threaded fastener 40 includes a threadedsection 42 for receiving and securing a bolt for mounting machinery tothe top of the base 12 of the floor 10. The non-circular threadedfastener 40 can be thick enough to include screw threading in itsaperture wall 33 (FIG. 7), thus eliminating the need for the threadedsection 42. A non-circular edged base 44 sized for receiving thenon-circular threaded fastener 40 is secured to the bottom of the base12, preferably by welding. The non-circular threaded fastener 40 and thenon-circular edged base 44 are preferable constructed of steel. A spacerbar 49 is located between the non-circular edged bases 44 to provideaddition support and strength to the non-circular edged bases 44. Thespacer bar 49 can be a steel bar or welding material.

A threaded receptacle 46 is connected to the non-circular edged base 44,preferably by welding material 41. The threaded receptacle 46 ispreferably constructed of steel. The internal walls of the threadedreceptacle 46 are threaded and sized to receive a cap 48 having screwthreading on its external walls. The cap 48 screws inside the threadedreceptacle 46 to create a hermetically sealed chamber 47 (FIG. 7) withinthe threaded receptacle 48.

Accordingly, when liquids escape from machinery mounted to the base 12of the floor 10, the liquids are retained within the floor 10 by theedges 14 and bolted in dams 20 until the escaped liquids reach theapertures 32. Upon reaching the apertures 32, the escaped liquids flowthrough the apertures 34 in base 12 and into the hermetically sealedchamber 47 within the threaded receptacles 46. The escaped liquidsremain inside the threaded receptacles 46 until the cap 48 is unscrewedto allow the liquids to be removed from the threaded receptacle as adesired time and location.

FIG. 6 also shows an enlarged view of the C-beams 38 and a bottom plate19 covering the C-beams 38. Also shown are the facing ends of theC-beams 21. Welding material 31 for securing the mounting plates 30 tothe base 12 are illustrated in FIG. 6. Welding material 41 also is shownfor securing the threaded receptacles 44 to the non-circular edges bases46.

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view of portion D shown in FIG. 4.Similar to FIG. 6, the mounting plate 30 is illustrated on the base 12.Apertures 32 of the mounting plate 30 are shown roughly aligned withapertures 34 of the base 12. Non-circular edged bases 44 are shownattached to the bottom of the base 12. A spacer bar 49 is shown attachedbetween the non-circular edged bases 44 for added support.

Non-circular threaded fasteners 40 are shown on the bottom 13 of thebase 12 for receiving a mounting bolt through the apertures 32 and 34.The non-circular threaded fasteners 44 include threaded sections 42 forreceiving and securing a mounting bolt. Threaded receptacles 46 areconnected to the internally threaded receptacles 46, and caps 48 arescrewed into the threaded receptacles 46 to create a hermetically sealedchamber 47 within the threaded receptacles 46 for receiving andcontaining spilled fluids from the mounted machinery.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of a containment pan 45 to provide anexemplary representation of the floor 12 of a shipping container,trailer, or other type of mounting platform configured in accordancewith the present invention. Similar to a floor of a shipping containeror a semi tractor trailer constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, the containment pan 45 having a floor 12 includes a mountingplate 30 on the top surface and raised edges or rims 14 on the peripheryof the containment pan 45 for containing escaped liquids. The top ofcaps 48, which are screwed into threaded receptacles 46, also areillustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the containment pan 45 shown in andtaken along line A-A of FIG. 8. The raised edges 14 of the containmentpan 45 are clearly shown, along with the mounting plate 30 located onthe top of the containment pan 45. Similar to FIGS. 6 and 7, illustratedare the mounting plate 30 having apertures 32, non-circular threadedfasteners 40 having a threaded section 42 for receiving and securing amounting bolt, threaded receptacle 46, and a threaded cap 48 screwedinside the threaded receptacle 46 to create a hermetically sealedchamber 47 for receiving and containing liquids escaping from machinerymounted to the mounting plate 30.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the containment pan 45 shown FIGS. 8 and9. FIG. 10 provides a clearer view of the components shown in FIGS. 8and 9 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 10 is intended to highlight the “floating”function of the non-circular threaded fasteners 40 of the presentinvention. By designing the apertures 32 and 34 to have a largerdiameter than the first diameter of the mounting holes of machinery tobe secured to the floor or base 12 of the containment pan 45, or a flooror platform in actual use, a margin of error is created so that themounting holes of machinery to be secured do not have to line up exactlywith the apertures 32 and 34 of the present invention which are designedto receive the mounting bolts for securing the machinery. Thenon-circular edged bases 44 allow the non-circular threaded fasteners 40a margin or freedom, jiggle, or “float” during the mounting process,thus providing an allowable error margin in the alignment of theapertures 32 and 34 with the mounting holes of machinery, thus reducingmounting time and costs.

Additionally, due to the non-circular configuration of the non-circularthreaded fasteners 40 and the non-circular edged bases 44, thenon-circular threaded fasteners 40 are prevented from rotating whilemounting bolts are screwed into the non-circular threaded fasteners 40to secure machinery to the mounting plates 30. In accordance with thepresent invention, the non-circular threaded fasteners 40 and thenon-circular edged bases 44 can be various non-circular configurations,as long as the configuration prevents the non-circular threaded fastener40 from being able to rotate within the non-circular edges base 44.

In accordance with the present invention, the non-circular faster 40 canbe serviced or replaced from the base 12 by removing the mounting plate30, and cutting an access hole greater in diameter or width than thenon-circular threaded fastener 40, but smaller in diameter than thenon-circular edged base 44. This would enable the non-circular threadedfastener 40 to be replaced or serviced, because after the mounting plate30 is welded back onto the floor 12, the non-circular threaded fastener40 would engage the mounting plate 30, instead of the floor 12, but theinvention would still function properly. In fact, a further embodimentof the invention configures the aperture 34 as originally being largerin width than the non-circular threaded fastener 40 (instead of aperture34 being smaller in width than the non-circular threaded fastener 40, asillustrated in FIG. 10). In such a further embodiment, the non-circularfastener 40 would engage the mounting plate 30 instead of the floor 12,as illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of portion E shown in FIG. 2 including animproved side rail 14 configured in accordance with the presentinvention. FIG. 11 shows the connecting block 17 having apertures 106for receiving hooks to lift and lower the shipping containing and floor10 onto semi tractor trailers and train rail cars. Also illustrated isthe base 12 having connecting joints 18. The raised rim 104 on the edgeof the base 12 is shown adjacent to the side rail 14. A C-bracket 108 isshown extending longitudinally under the base 12. Finally, a C-bracket110 is shown as part of the side rail 14 and extending longitudinallyand connected to the raised rim 104 of the base 12.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved side rail 14 isprovided by connecting a back of a C-bracket 102 to the raised rim 104of the base 12 which extends longitudinally along the floor 10. A sinewave or corrugated side rail 114 is located within the C-bracket 102having hills 120 and valleys 122 that connect to an upper panel 110 andlower panel 112, respectively, of the C-bracket 102.

The opening of the C-bracket 102 preferably faces outward. The back ofthe C-bracket 102 preferably is welded to the raised rim 104. The hills120 of the rail 114 are preferably welded to the upper panel 110. Thevalleys 122 of the rail 114 are preferably welded to the lower panel112.

The C-bracket 102, including the upper panel 110 and lower panel 112,are preferably formed out of a unitary component, such as steel. Therail 114 is preferably formed out of steel. The corrugated side rail 114preferably has a ribbon configuration, but also can have a circular,rectangular, or other type of cross-sectional configuration. While theillustrated embodiment utilizes a C-bracket containing a corrugated siderail 114, the corrugated side rail 114 could be contained within abracket having a different configuration from a C-bracket, such as acircular tube, rectangular bracket, I-beam, triangular, polygon, orother cross-sectional configuration. Preferably, the corrugated siderail 114 would be covered by another C-bracket facing inward and weld toor around the C-bracket 102 to provide additional strength.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the corrugated side rail 114 configuredin accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.Included between the lower panel 112 and the upper panel 110, andbetween the corrugated side rails 114, is a sound attenuation material116. The sound attenuation material 116 can include, but is not limitedto, such materials as single foam, two-part foam, mineral wood, or acomposite material. Any sound reducing material may be used as soundattenuation material 116. The sound attenuation material functions toreduce or eliminate a rattle or a loose metal noise caused by movementof the corrugated side rail within the C-bracket 102.

While specific embodiments have been shown and described to point outfundamental and novel features of the invention as applied to thepreferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes of the form and details of the apparatusillustrated and in the operation may be done by those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A floor mounting system, comprising: a floor having a top surface anda bottom surface, the floor including a plurality of aperturespositioned to align with mounting holes of machinery having a firstdiameter to be mounted to the floor, wherein the diameter of the floorapertures are larger than the first diameter to allow a margin of errorin the alignment with the machinery mounting holes; a mounting plate onthe top surface of the floor having apertures with a diameter greaterthan the first diameter to allow a margin of error in the alignment withthe machinery mounting holes; a non-circular threaded fastener on thebottom surface of the floor for receiving bolts for mounting machineryto the floor; and a non-circular edged base sized for receiving thenon-circular threaded fastener such that the non-circular threadedfastener cannot rotate within non-circular edged base.
 2. The floormounting system of claim 1, further comprising: a threaded receptacleconnected to the non-circular edged base; a threaded screw cap screwedinto the threaded receptacle, and said threaded receptacle being locatedaround an aperture in the non-circular edged base; and wherein thecombination of the bottom surface of the floor, the non-circular edgedbase, the threaded receptacle, and the threaded screw cap form ahermetically sealed chamber the non-circular threaded fastener.
 3. Amounting system for a platform, comprising: a platform having a firstsurface and a second surface, the platform including a plurality ofapertures positioned to align with mounting holes of an apparatus havinga first diameter to be mounted to the platform, wherein the diameter ofthe platform apertures are larger than the first diameter to allow amargin of error in the alignment with the apparatus mounting holes; amounting plate on the first surface of the platform having apertureswith a diameter greater than the first diameter to allow a margin oferror in the alignment with the apparatus mounting holes; a non-circularthreaded fastener on the second surface of the platform for receivingbolts for mounting an apparatus to the platform; and a non-circularedged base sized for receiving a non-circular threaded fastener suchthat the non-circular threaded fastener cannot rotate withinnon-circular edged base.
 4. An improved side rail for a trailer floor,comprising: a floor having a top surface, a bottom surface, and firstand second longitudinally extending edges having upward ending rims; afirst C-beam extending adjacent to the first longitudinally extendingedge, wherein an opening of the first C-beam faces away from the firstlongitudinally extending edge, and a back of the first C-beam is securedto the upward extending rim of the first longitudinally extending edge;a second C-beam extending adjacent to the second longitudinallyextending edge, wherein an opening of the second C-beam faces away fromthe second longitudinally extending edge, and a back of the secondC-beam is secured to the upward extending rim of the secondlongitudinally extending edge; a first corrugated rail extendinglongitudinally within the first C-beam, wherein peaks and valleys of thefirst corrugated rail contact inner walls of the first C-beam; and asecond corrugated rail extending longitudinally within the secondC-beam, wherein peaks and valleys of the second corrugated rail contactinner walls of the second C-beam.
 5. The improved side rail of claim 4,further comprising: sound attenuation material located between the peaksand valleys of the first and second corrugated rails.